International Applicants
This section is for you if you are an international applicant applying to the College of Arts and Sciences as a first year or transfer student. Below you will find application deadlines, an outline of the application process, and information regarding financial aid.Application Deadlines
| Steps | Regular Decision | Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Intl. Transfer (Fall Entry) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Application |
Jan. 15 | Nov. 15 | Jan. 2 | March 15 |
| Notification | April 1 | Dec. 15 | Feb. 1 | May 1 |
| Reply/ Deposit Due |
May 1 | Jan. 2 | Feb. 15 | Two weeks after acceptance |
To apply to the College of Arts and Sciences, you must submit the Common Application and Oberlin's Supplement to the Common Application, which includes a brief essay. You need not wait to file the supplement until after you have submitted the Common Application. We prefer that you submit the supplement as soon as possible.
Application Outline
Requirements for First-Year Applicants
- Common Application Form
- School Report with Official Transcript
To be completed by a secondary school counselor. (If your school has no counselor, a principal, head of division, or another school official may complete the form.) It is important that an official transcript of your courses, grades, and exam marks be included by the school with this report.- Teacher Evaluations (2)
To be completed by teachers in academic subjects.Additional Forms
- International Certification of Finances Form (for all applicants)
Standardized Test Scores
Scores for these exams should be sent directly to Oberlin by the testing agency. You may send photocopies of your scores as a preliminary measure, but all final admissions decisions are based only on official reports.
- SAT or ACT with writing (SAT II subject tests are optional)
- Results of any national examinations you have taken
- TOEFL, IELTS, or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). If you are a native speaker of English or if your high school coursework was conducted in English, you do not need to submit a standardized language test.
Note If it is not possible to take one or more of the required exams where you live, you may contact us for a waiver. Be aware, however, that applicants who provide a standardized test score will be considered more favorably. Other Materials
You may send examples of your best academic or artistic work, however, please avoid sending numerous certificates or testimonials about your activities. A strong, well-prepared application is both comprehensive and concise.
Additional Requirements for International Transfer Applicants
In addition to all of the above forms, transfer applicants must also submit:
- College Official's Report
To be completed by the Dean of Students (or appropriate official) at your current university and should be sent directly to Oberlin by that person.- International Transfer Student Midterm Report Form
Required if final grades do not yet appear on an official transcript. The deadline for submission is March 15.
Note Transfer applicants must submit both a final secondary school transcript and the most recent university transcript as part of the School Report.
Financial Aid
- International Student Financial Aid Application
Required if applying for financial assistance.
| Note | Canadian citizens do not need to fill out the International Studedent Financial Aid Application. You shoud instead complete the CSS PROFILE form. |
|---|
Application Fee
The application fee is waived for all international students and for all students attending high schools outside the United States regardless of nationality. To utilize this fee waiver, select the "Other Fee Waiver" option when completing the Common Application.Early Decision
If Oberlin College is your first choice, consider applying under the Early Decision Plan. About one third of Oberlin’s first-year students enroll through an Early Decision Plan.Notification for Early Decision I applicants (either admission, deferral, or denial) occurs by mid-December; notification for Early Decision II applicants occurs before Feb. 1. For admitted students, financial aid and scholarship packages follow soon after.
An early decision application is a binding commitment that should be carefully considered. Students applying under the Early Decision Plan must agree to enroll if accepted. If Oberlin admits you, you must withdraw applications to all other institutions.